Clinical Outcomes of Lung Transplantation in the Presence of Donor-Specific Antibodies

Rationale There is significant variation in approach to pre–lung transplant donor-specific antibodies (DSA), with some centers declining to cross any DSA. We implemented a protocol for transplantation for candidates with pretransplant DSA so long as a prospective complement-dependent cytotoxicity crossmatch was negative, regardless of number, specificity, class, or mean fluorescence intensity. Objectives To compare post-transplant outcomes including overall survival, chronic lung allograft dysfunction–free survival, antibody-mediated rejection, and acute cellular rejection in lung transplant recipients where pretransplant DSA was and was not present. Methods This was a single-center retrospective cohort study. For recipients with pretransplant DSA, if the prospective complement-dependent cytotoxicity crossmatch was negative, the donor offer was accepted and plasmapheresis was performed within 24 hours of transplantation and continued until retrospective crossmatch results returned. Immunosuppression and post-transplant management were not otherwise modified. Results Of the 203 included recipients, 18 (8.9%) had pretransplant DSA. The median DSA mean fluorescence intensity was 4,000 (interquartile range, 2,975–5,625; total range, 2,100–17,000). The median number of DSA present per patient was one (interquartile range, 1–2). The presence of pretransplant DSA was not associated with increased mortality (hazard ratio, 1.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.4–3.4) or decreased chronic lung allograft dysfunction–free survival (hazard ratio, 1.1; 95% CI, 0.6–2.1). Recipients with pretransplant DSA were more likely to require prolonged mechanical ventilation (adjusted odds ratio, 7.0; 95% CI, 2.3–21.6) and to have antibody-mediated rejection requiring treatment (adjusted odds ratio, 7.5; 95% CI, 1.0–55.8). Conclusions A protocol of accepting donor offers for lung transplant candidates with preformed, complement-dependent cytotoxicity crossmatch-negative DSA is associated with increased need for prolonged mechanical ventilation and antibody-mediated rejection without affecting short-term overall or chronic lung allograft dysfunction–free survival.